One of my next projects is to build a simple tower crane. I’ve developed a new turntable (more on that later ), and I’m working on a boom with a triangular cross section.

It’s not too hard to make a triangular cross section, but it’s an added challenge to create a design that will transition between sections of different heights.

This design (below) makes use of a truss chord on the top that is oriented normally. This allows the height of the truss section to change along its length fairly easily (it’s the link between sections that becomes very difficult unless the top chord is oriented normally).

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My goal is to build the boom of the tower crane as a cantilever type and not use guy wires as typically seen on many tower cranes. The tower base of the crane will make use of the boom sections I built for the crane project.